Analogy learning: a strategy for rowing success
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Science
Abstract
Analogy learning has been proven to be an effective implicit motor learning strategy in preventing choking under pressure. Therefore I propose that I investigate the effects of implementing analogy learning to rowers at a novice, intermediate and elite level in reducing the possibility of choking under competitive pressure. To my knowledge there is limited research on analogy learning also this is a niche study, as 1) experts have never been tested in relation to using analogies to decrease the negative effects of pressure and 2) rowing is team sport with multiple inter-acting and inter-dependent participants which has never been examined. The rowers will be given analogies for individual and crew based movements. The rowers will then be tested using psychophysiological techniques such as measuring of cortical efficiency, heart rate, gaze etc on the water and on a rowing machine. I hypothesise that there will be a greater positive result from the rowers who are given analogy training than the rowers that have the traditional coaching.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Christopher Ring (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Katherine Sparks (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/J50001X/1 | 30/09/2011 | 01/04/2022 | |||
| 1929096 | Studentship | ES/J50001X/1 | 30/09/2017 | 03/04/2022 | Katherine Sparks |
| ES/P000711/1 | 30/09/2017 | 29/09/2027 | |||
| 1929096 | Studentship | ES/P000711/1 | 30/09/2017 | 03/04/2022 | Katherine Sparks |
| Description | My studies have demonstrated that rowers may perform a rowing-specific choke (crabbing - whereby the oar is trapped under the water during the stroke) under pressure due to extreme levels of conscious motor processing and movement self-consciousness. Conscious motor processing is the extent that an individual may consciously control their movement, whilst movement self-consciousness captures the tendency of an individual's concern with their movement style in relation to others. However that conscious motor processing may play a beneficial role in technical performance during competition, therefore contradicting previous movement reinvestment research and that complete automaticity is always beneficial for performance. My following study demonstrated the need for sport-specific reinvestment scale, I developed a rowing-specific reinvestment scale (RSRS). This RSRS was able to predict crabbing behaviour and poor performance under real race competition, unlike MSRS that could no predict race performance. The preliminary results of my third study where I examined the effects of trait sport mindfulness on the effects of anxiety and reinvestment on performance. Mindfulness was found to moderate the effects on anxiety and dispositional/state reinvestment, therefore performance was saved. |
| Exploitation Route | Coaches, psychologists and rowers can use the results to better understand why rowers may choke under pressure and implement mindfulness to preventing it from occurring, especially in athletes with a predisposition to consciously process under pressure. |
| Sectors | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | Overseas Institutional visit |
| Amount | £2,135 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |